Violet Ernst

Posted: Wednesday, Jan 2nd, 2013

Longtime Paso Robles resident Violet Ernst, went home to live with her Savior, Dec. 21, 2012. She was born in October of 1925 in Tustin, Calif. to Fred and Emma (Klintworth) Nielsen. Her marriage in 1945 to Wilmar (Bim) Ernst united two pioneer families that had settled in the Paso Robles area — the Gerd Klintworth family and the William Ernst family.

Violet was instrumental in documenting and preserving the history of both families. She also enjoyed refinishing antique furniture, gardening, hunting for and collecting antique bottles and inkwells. She was a member of the San Luis Obispo Bottle Society, docent at the Pioneer Museum and member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 67 years, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and more recently was the church archivist.

She is survived by her children — son David and Claudia Ernst; son Dr. Fred Ernst; daughter Kathryn and Jim Dooley; son Paul Ernst; daughter Carol Ernst; grandchildren James, Heather, Matthew and Julie; great grandchildren Tristan, Bridget and Braylen.

A celebration of her life was held Friday, Dec. 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church. If you wish to make a donation in her name her favorite charities were Trinity Lutheran Church and the Pioneer Museum.